With NFL free agency well underway as we approach the 2023 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers still have holes on the roster to fill, especially as they will now be building around Jordan Love after the trade of Aaron Rodgers. The Packers were a near-playoff team last season and now are looking to determine if Love is the guy to get them there as they transition away from their second consecutive Hall of Fame quarterback.
Green Bay Packers Team Needs Following Round 1 of the NFL Draft
- WR
- TE
- S
- DT
The Packers need a lot of help at the wide receiver position for Love. As PFN NFL Analyst Dalton Miller opined, “Does anybody who doesn’t write or talk about football for a living know who Samori Toure is? Bo Melton and Jeff Cotton round out the Packers’ receiving corps currently, meaning they have absolutely no depth to go along with an inexperienced starting group.”
The Packers had a chance to address this glaring need at pick No. 13 but instead chose not to. They can’t wait much longer.
MORE: Green Bay Packers’ 2023 Schedule
Additionally, the Packers also need to address the tight ends. They also need a safety, but beyond the top, that position is not very deep in this draft class. Green Bay’s draft plan should be focused on adding pieces around Love so that they can know for sure if he is the guy. They also need to add bodies along their defensive line.
Results for Packers 2023 Draft Picks
Round 1, Pick 13 | Lukas Van Ness, EDGE
The Packers again have opted not to go wide receiver in Round 1 of an NFL Draft. Somewhere in the Big Apple, Aaron Rodgers is laughing. They addressed an area of need and did add a good player, but it wasn’t the most pressing need. The other observation of this pick from Tony Pauline was that Lukas Van Ness‘ game is very similar to … Rashan Gary, a current Packer still struggling to break out fully.
Predictions for Remaining Packers 2023 Draft Picks
Round 2, Pick 11 | Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE
Depending on the way the board falls, Green Bay may double down on EDGE. They could miss the run on tight ends and also miss out on Brian Branch at safety. They missed the run on wide receivers that happened at the end of Round 1 and continued into the top of Round 2. Adetomiwa Adebawore fits what the Packers like on their defensive line.
Round 2, Pick 14 | Josh Downs, WR
Later than they probably wanted, but the Packers finally grab a wide receiver off of the board. Josh Downs should be able to be an asset early on for Jordan Love but isn’t the Day 1 difference-maker he could have benefitted from early on.
Round 3, Pick 15 | Sam LaPorta, TE
Sam LaPorta fills a need at tight end for the Packers. He is an elite athlete at the position with excellent speed to get into space.
Round 4, Pick 14 | Tyler Steen, OT
The Packers need to upgrade at tackle, and Tyler Steen is an elite athlete at the position. He needs to work on independent hand technique and consistent movement through his strikes, but he has all the tools to develop into a starter.
Round 5, Pick 14 | Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB
Yes, Love is the heir apparent to Rodgers. Yet, to say he is still unknown is an understatement. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has traits teams love, and hedging your bets is never a bad thing, especially this late in the draft.
Round 5, Pick 35 | Mike Morris, EDGE
Mike Morris adds to their need at edge and gives Green Bay a player who can provide needed power to control the outside in the run game.
Round 7, Pick 15 | Mohamed Ibrahim, RB
This late in the draft, getting developmental depth is key. Late-round running backs tend to have success, so the Packers throw a dart at Mohamed Ibrahim.
Round 7, Pick 18 | Gervarrius Owens, S
Gervarrius Owens doesn’t fill a need but is a player you hope can be developed for depth and can aid the defense.
Round 7, Pick 25 | Marshon Ford, TE
Marshon Ford provides more depth at a position of need.
Round 7, Pick 39 | Tommy DeVito, QB
Tommy DeVito is another late-round flier on a quarterback to add to the room for development.